Lincoln Park salon robbery latest in string of heists

Tuesday's heist happened at a Great Clips salon at Webster and Sheffield in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Is it the work of a serial salon robber who is believed to be responsible for a string of robberies in the city and suburbs?

Chicago police detectives walked out of The Great Clips hair salon with what is believed to be a disc with surveillance tape. The Lincoln Park business is the latest area hair salon to robbed by a man with a similar description.

Just before 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, the robber walked in, demanded money and fled. At the time of the robbery, it was apparently just a stylist and a customer inside.

Great Clips was back open in time for Connor Contoro's appointment.

"I did not know that before I got there," Contoro said. "I'm happy I missed it. I still got my haircut, so at least they're still open."

The robbery was so quick, employees at the hair salon next door to the Great Clips had no idea its neighboring business was robbed until the police showed up.

"It never makes you feel safe when something like that happens in your neighborhood, so close to your business," said Salon V owner Veronica Rubio.

Besides surveillance cameras, Rubio instructs her employees to keep the doors locked if they are by themselves.

Similar safety rules are practiced across the street at the K. Paige Salon. A few months ago, this business was robbed.

"Even if people look familiar, and they don't have an appointment, it's not safe to let them in, especially with what's going on," said Kristin Paige.

Police believe Tuesday's robber may be the same man responsible for hair salon robberies in the suburbs, including Skokie, Niles and Lombard. Many of the businesses are chain salons.

There are four hair salons near the corner of Sheffield and Webster. Tuesday's thief chose the Great Clips.

"I think that just the type of salon that they are, they turn over their clients a lot quicker, and their tickets are usually under $20," said Rubio. "So most of those people are probably paying with cash."

The three other salons near the Great Clips are all independently owned and slightly more expensive, so most of their transactions are done by credit card. Regardless, all the salons in the area are taking any extra precautions.